Saturated Iowa Suffering More Massive Flooding

August 12, 2010 - The summer of 2010 has brought rain and more rain to Iowa. The latest round of thunderstorms pounded the area Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights causing massive flooding in central and eastern Iowa on already saturated ground. Extensive damage, road closures and one death are reported from this latest round of flooding.

The stage was set with a snowy winter and wet spring and summer, but the main cause of the overflowing rivers and rising waters were three consecutive nights of heavy rainfall. Recent storms dumped as much as six inches on already soaked areas.

Excessive heat warnings are in effect for much of central and southern Iowa Thursday. The heat and humidity will add to the danger for clean-up and rescue efforts, especially, in areas with no running water or electricity.

The forecast brings more bad news with more storms being forecast for Thursday and Friday. The National Weather Service has issued flash flood watches for northwest Iowa from Thursday afternoon through Friday evening. As much as three inches of rain could fall on already saturated ground.

Hundreds of residents have been evacuated from their homes. Three cars were swept away on a rural road by the quickly swelling Mud Creek. Rescuers were able to save ten of the eleven passengers but, sadly, a 16-year-old Altoona girl was killed.

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) Interstate 35 near Ames, and several other state highways and county roads are closed in Story County due to flooding. In addition, many city streets have also been shut down.

Numerous roads have been closed in other counties covered by the National Weather Service's flash flood watch. IDOT urges motorists to remember, turn around - don't drown if they encounter a flooded roadway.

Ames was forced to cut off water supply after a water main break caused by shifting soil due to the flooding. Over four feet of water is standing in Iowa State University's basketball arena and many homes and businesses have been flooded by the Squaw Creek and Skunk River. Hundreds of Ames residents have been evacuated.

In Des Moines hundreds of residents had to be evacuated Wednesday afternoon because of massive flooding from Four Mile Creek. Gas and electric service have been shut off and a shelter has been set up in an elementary school.

The town of Colfax has become practically shut off as the rising Skunk River has covered roads into town with as much as three feet of water. Residents are checking on neighbors with boats and hundreds of folks have been asked to seek higher ground.

'When it rains it pours' seems to be Iowa's motto this summer, after the dam break at Lake Delhi and flooding earlier in the summer and now, these late summer soakers.

Sources:

http://www.news-gazette.com/

http://www.news.iowadot.gov/

http://www.kwqc.com/